Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team begins its 59th season of competition when it travels to take on James Madison on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ in the first meeting between the two programs since 2012. Maine is 34-24 all-time in season openers and 5-2 in its last two season openers. The game can also be heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and worldwide at
GoBlackBears.com.
A LOOK AT MAINE:
Maine returns three starters (Simon, Bornemann, Gallego) to a squad picked to finish second in the America East preseason coaches poll a year after going 20-12, 15-3 in league play. Maine, which reached the America East Championship game in 2021 for the seventh consecutive season, fell in the title game to UAlbany before advancing to compete against Boston College in the opening round of the WNIT. Simon, the reigning America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year, enters the season ranked 16th on Maine's all-time scoring list (1,166) after averaging 14.0 points per game during her first three seasons. Simon led the America East in scoring (16.0) and steals (2.8) per game a year ago. Bornemann, who was named to the America East All-Tournament Team in 2022, averaged 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a year ago while leading Maine with a 36.4 clip from three-point range. Gallego, an America East All-Rookie selection and three-time America East Rookie of the Week, averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 boards in 2021-22. The Black Bears also welcome back
Olivia Rockwood (32 gms/4.1 pts) and Adrianna Smith (30 gms/2.1/pts/2.0 rbs) with significant experience. Maine looks to get key minutes from native Mainers Jaycie Christopher, the 2022 Maine Player of the Year, and Sarah Talon, a Miss Maine Basketball semifinalist. Maine welcomes back four of its top six scorers (Simon, Bornemann, Rockwood, Gallego). Head coach
Amy Vachon returns for her sixth full season at the helm of the Black Bears and 12th overall year on staff. Vachon, one of only two coaches in the history of the America East Conference to be named Coach of the Year four times, has won the award in each of the past two seasons.
Maine led the America East in total triples made (195) and three pointers made per game (6.1). The Black Bears were also extremely efficient in taking care of the ball, ranking first in the America East and 53rd nationally with just 13.5 giveaways per game. The Black Bears also led the league in assists, featuring 14.3 helpers per game, and second with 8.3 steals.
A LOOK AT JAMES MADISON:
The Dukes, picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll, are coming off a 14-15 record in their final year of competition in the Colonial Athletic Association. James Madison is led by senior Kiki Jefferson, a Sun Belt preseason second team selection, who averaged 18.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in 2021-22. Jefferson was named to the All-CAA second team a year ago. The Dukes averaged 63.6 points per game while surrendering 64.6 last season and ranking third in the CAA at 39.9 rebounds per game.
SERIES WITH JAMES MADISON:
The Dukes lead the all-time series, 2-3, and have won each of the past two meetings. Maine, 0-2 on the road against JMU, last defeated the Dukes in 1997, an 85-62 victory in a game in which head coach
Amy Vachon competed. The Dukes took the last meeting in the series, 88-34, played back on Dec. 28, 2012. Maine won the first-ever meeting in the series, 71-54, on Dec. 29, 1991.
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine |
Category |
JMU |
| 58.3 |
Points Per Game |
63.6 |
| 56.8 |
Opponent Points Per Game |
64.6 |
| +1.5 |
Scoring Margin |
-1.0 |
| 40.5 |
FG Pct. |
38.1 |
| 28.9 |
3-Pt FG Pct. |
28.1 |
| 67.5 |
FT Pct. |
73.3 |
| 32.7 |
Rebound Per Game |
40.0 |
| -1.6 |
Rebound Margin |
+3.6 |
| 14.3 |
Assists Per Game |
9.2 |
| 13.5 |
Turnovers Per Game |
15.7 |
| 16.3 |
Turnovers Forced Per Game |
13.5 |
| 8.7 |
Steals Per Game |
5.9 |
| 2.7 |
Blocks Per Game |
2.6 |
-UMaine-
